Carson Lesiuk is transitioning from an assistant captain to the captains role with the Nanaimo Clippers in his final junior season. (Gary Dorland)

By Dan Marshall

New Captain

‘Something I take a lot of pride in:’ Island product wearing ‘C’ for the Clippers

Sep 24, 2025 | 11:58 AM

NANAIMO — The Clippers have stayed local in choosing their captain for the 2025-26 hockey season.

Duncan native Carson Lesiuk took over the role from the recently graduated Connor DeTurris.

After wearing an ‘A’ as an assistant captain last year, Lesiuk will be the leader in the Nanaimo dressing room this season.

“I was fortunate to get to play with Connor last year so I was able to learn from the best. It’s something I take a lot of pride in being from just down the island. It’s cool to have family and friends support me and I’ve had lots of messages these last couple weeks and it’s been really great to see.”

Lesiuk began his BCHL career in Penticton in 2023 and has learned a lot from previous captains since then.

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“There’s certain times when you need to take control of the room and be the voice that steps up and there’s other times your play can just dictate it and there’s not much to say. Sometimes you just need to go out and do it and the other guys fall behind you.”

With ten returning players part of Lesiuk’s role will be integrating a large contingent of newcomers into the Clippers team culture.

A smaller training camp roster allowed for chemistry to be built quickly.

“It’s about making sure everybody feels welcome and it’s a family mentality. My job is just to make sure that guys feel part of that brotherhood and that family right away. In our our dressing room we stand shoulder to shoulder and we want to do it more for the guy on the left and the right of you than for yourself.”

The Clippers started their season, beginning Friday, Sept. 19, going 1-1 against the Alberni Valley Bulldogs.

Lesiuk and the returning roster ended up in sixth place in the Coastal Conference last season and went out in the first round of the playoffs.

The captain has much loftier goals for the 2025-26 campaign.

“The goal in our room is to win a championship this year. We’ve got three guys that have won national championships in our room with Rimmer, Fechner and Pappas. We’ve got an older core where for a lot of guys it’s their last year of junior and they know this is their final chance. I think we have a really special group.”

The Clippers have only one game in a 12-day span before a busy October.

Nanaimo hosts the Langley Rivermen on Friday, Sept. 26 at 7 p.m.

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